Michigan

New MSU class immerses area interns in Jackson community

Updated on July 2, 2017 at 9:07 AMPosted on July 2, 2017 at 9:00 AM

Michigan State University College of Engineering students interning at Jackson-area companies toured the Jackson State Prison in early June 2017 for a class that immerses interns in the Jackson community through social events.

Michigan State University College of Engineering students interning at Jackson-area companies toured the Jackson State Prison in early June 2017 for a class that immerses interns in the Jackson community through social events.(Courtesy Photo)

JACKSON, MI - For interns working at Jackson-area companies, the city becomes their temporary homes and possibly future homes.

The College of Engineering at Michigan State University has created a new class for their students to get to know their new towns a little better.

EGR 393 is a one-credit class for engineering students at MSU who are interning in one of four cities across Michigan - Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Jackson.

Its purpose is to immerse interns in the community they are working in, said instructor Kyle Liechty. The class uses social events within the community to help interns not only learn about the city, but network with other professionals there.

"If you're really looking at destinations to work in, you may as well figure out what's going on in the community," Liechty said. "This forces students into the community life with fixed events, but also with options to explore and network beyond that."

The group of Jackson interns range from sophomores to seniors working at companies like Consumers Energy, Gerdau, Chemetall and CertainTeed Corporation. There are 13 students from MSU's College of Engineering interning at Jackson-area companies who are registered in the class.

They have done events like the Cell Block 7 prison tour , eaten at local restaurants like Chilango's Burrito Bar and volunteered at the Ella Sharp Museum Beer and Wine Festival.

They plan on spending a day at Jackson Speedway, trying West Texas Barbecue and touring Grand River Brewery later this July.

Jordan Mulcahy grew up in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School. The MSU sophomore is spending the summer interning at Consumers Energy. Despite living in Jackson for most of his life, he's seeing Jackson in a new light, he said.

"It's showing me a lot of different things to do in Jackson I never knew about," he said. "It's making me realize I must have just been sleeping as a kid. There's good, quality stuff here in Jackson, especially if you're getting paid well. I grew up kind of impoverished. I didn't get to see a lot of the stuff here you might have to pay for like I'm seeing now."

For other interns like Logan Eby and Holly Iglewski, Jackson is an entirely new setting.

Eby, originally from Bay City, is interning at Chemetall. Although Jackson's roads need improvement, he said, the city is a pleasant surprise - the buildings are taller than he expected.

It's the first year the class has included Jackson interns. Students can take the class more than once.

The goal, Liechty said, is to show students what Michigan cities have to offer.

"Ultimately, we want students to open their eyes to various experiences to create and appreciate what's around them in their communities within the state," he said.